Jeager-LeCoultre Grande Reverso 976 – The Guillermo Ceniceros Special Edition - Full Overview

Jeager-LeCoultre Grande Reverso 976 – The Guillermo Ceniceros Special Edition

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is recognized by watchmaking connoisseurs as an Art Deco icon that stands out from other horological creations with a case that slides at the base and rotates completely on itself. In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to invite renowned artists and engravers to create exceptional works of art that will be featured on the case back.

It was perhaps this uniqueness and originality that drove Jaeger-LeCoultre to create a unique Special Edition linked to conceptual art that pays homage to the renowned Mexican painter, muralist, and engraver Guillermo Ceniceros. This magnificent association takes shape in the impressive Grande Reverso 976 Guillermo Ceniceros Special Edition.

The first model of the Guillermo Ceniceros Edition features a stainless steel case with lacquer engraving and is limited to 50 pieces.

The second edition is in rose gold, featuring a fully engraved case, and is limited to 10 pieces.

The Reverso has the special ability to exemplify its owners’ unique personalities, and transform their physical and visual styles into the highest forms of art. What better canvas for a work of art than the masterpieces of Guillermo Ceniceros? The world-renowned artist’s murals and engravings embody geometric form, space and harmony, and are featured in public and private collections around the world.

The symbolism of duality has long been a focal point for Ceniceros – from his iconic human faces, to the geometry of the human body, to air and land, and to light and darkness. His vision aligns perfectly with the duality of time – a concept that Jaeger-LeCoultre has mastered through the Reverso.

Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Jerome Lambert recognized that partnering with Maestro Ceniceros represented an opportunity to bring Mexican artistry to the forefront of haute horology, and foster an even greater appreciation for the company’s classic timepieces, as well as for Ceniceros’ work.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watches promote the highest form of expression, both mechanically and aesthetically. The Reverso has elevated this expression to an art form. The true beauty of the Reverso lies in its unique and personal ties to the artistic community for over 80 years.

The Guillermo Ceniceros Special Edition attributes the precision of time to one face and the stoppage of time to the other face through the artist’s beautiful engravings. This splendid timepiece brings timeless artistry to the forefront of haute watchmaking and is a unique canvas for Guillermo’s renowned works.

“My interest in this collaboration focuses on the metal canvas that the Reverso represents. No other watch offers this. I was interested in being part of the 80th anniversary of an iconic model that has a rich heritage of collaboration with the arts, and now, too, an interest in the arts of Mexico. Art and horology have many things in common – certainly, the theme of precision. My work on the Ceniceros Reverso creates a new, very personal way for owners to relate to my art. I celebrate this.” -Guillermo Ceniceros
 
Artist Biography
Guillermo Ceniceros is an international renowned Mexican artist and one of the country's most important mural painters. His figurative public murals grace universities, hospitals nad the Mexico City subway system, and are enjoyed by over 500,000 people every day. Ceniceros' easel compositions and engravings center around themes such as space, geometry and the female form. These pieces grace the permanent collections of established museums and are part of important private collections, contributing to an aesthetic language and Ceniceros' internationally recognized cultural legacy.  

Technical Specification Grande Reverso 976 – Guillermo Ceniceros Limited Edition CALIBER: Jaeger-LeCoultre 976
MOVEMENT: Hand winding constructed of 151 pieces 

Vibrations per hour: 28,800
Power reserve: 48 hours
Jewels: 19
Barrel: 1 

Height: 4.15 mm
FUNCTIONS: Hour - Minute 
Seconds
CASE: Grande size 30 x 48.5 mm
Stainless steel
 Limited to 50 pieces, REF: Q373847M
Rose gold
 Limited to 10 pieces, REF: Q373247M
DIAL: Vertical black guilloché and Clous de Paris engraving
HANDS AND NUMERALS: Sword, vintage orange tint numerals and hands
STRAP/BRACELET: Alligator leather
BUCKLE: Double folding buckle 20.0 mm

This unique Grande Reverso Ceniceros Edition comes packaged with individual numbered lithograph art that inspired its creation.

With each watch you receive the Guillermo Ceniceros “Setenta Anos” book which chronicles the work of this living legend; a Special Edition Brochure about this project; numbered and signed lithograph displaying the concept art that was used for the engraving of each piece.

The Grande Reverso 976 Guillermo Ceniceros Special Edition was officially launched during the grand opening gala for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Mexico City Boutique, and is the first Mexico City boutique edition of it's kind. Since this special edition holds an unique place both in the hearts of Ceniceros art & watch collectors in the United States Jaeger-LeCoultre has arranged that orders may be booked and delivered thru the Beverly Hills Boutique.

Not every size fits all, but there is a Reverso for all ...

The Jaeger-LeCoultre iconic Reverso has a longstanding history recently celebrating its 80th Anniversary. Starting out as a sports concept of a watch that could survive the hard knocks of the polo game evolving over time to different iritations eventually becaming increasingly known as an art deco classic.
My best advice is to go & try few of them out to see which one fits You the best. I personally went through 4 different Reverso sizes finding my perfect match with the very special Grande Reverso 976 Ceniceros Edition.

Exclusive - JLC's Tribute to Memovox Polaris: Paris Boutique Launch Party

On April 3rd at the MJLC Paris Boutique there was a preview launch party to the much awaited upcoming 2008 SIHH model the rendition and rebirth of the Polaris.

Already so much has been said about this legendary vintage piece and finally officially announced the tribute to this piece in this press release published last week, yet there was no confirmed photos of the prototypes in the real world. Well the wait is over.

Being that these are not professional photos, but rather real life photos taken to share firsthand this news with all of the worldwide aficionados of JLC and Polaris, please excuse the overall quality and obtrusive lighting. Do note that this are working prototypes which should indicate the final look of the pieces although some minor changes are possible to the final versions. Special thanks goes to my buddy Asi for taking care of business of being the reporter with camera on hand.

Much has been painstakingly taken care of to preserve each detail and nuance of the past in order to pay the respects to the legend with the most accurate tribute.

From the presentation box complete with a certificate of origin and a booklet telling the story of the now legendary watch.



The two models that made the most lasting impact on their era were chosen for the 2008 re-editions, the first corresponds to the original Memovox Polaris, as it was launched in 1965 which will be a LE limited edition of 165 (EDITED: changed from 65) in 950 platinum (which is not shown here, but expect it to be very similar to Paris Boutique Edition).

The second is the most famous model of all, created in 1968, this stainless steel 1968 model comes in a limited edition of 768.


Finally the special Paris Boutique Edition, in order to commemorate the place where the idea of a tribute was born and further developed to its present state, a stainless steel model that comes in a limited edition of 65 pieces.


Compared to their vintage contraparts I think they stack very good and pay a careful notion to featuring almost all of their essential characteristics to most painstaking detail.

1968 model: vintage on left and tribute on right. The main indications on the re-edition of the most famous 1968 model are aged patina style luminescent. This star model is also distinguished by its open worked baton-type hands and its large trapeze-shaped hour-markers.


As with the vintage the large round 42 mm-diameter case with polished finishing and no visible bezel cuts a stunning figure and very comfortably on the wrist.

The alarm time indicator is immediately recognizable by means of a luminescent triangle in the dial center. Controlled by the alarm crown, the central disc turns to line up the triangle with the desired alarm time.


The Paris Boutique SE, 1965 re-edition, has nickel-plated and polished straight hour-markers, Arabic numerals, luminescent rhodium-plated dauphine hands and the Automatic Alarm Calendar inscriptions.



The 1965 models: tribute on left and vintage on right.


Polaris Trio: left vintage 1968, middle Paris Boutique 1965 tribute and right 1968 tribute.


Loyal to the black dial of their predecessors, each replica bears its own signature features as seen on this duo coupling of vintage and tribute pairs.


Some special attention to details true to the original easily visible are:

Synthetic plexi glass forming the original domed shape of the Polaris watch.


The case is equipped with a crown at 3 o’clock, framed by the two distinctive Memovox crowns.


The back of the Memovox Tribute to Polaris models features outer back with 16 round openings, secured to the water resistance back in harmony with the original design. The latter is adorned with an engraving inspired by the original ‘compressor’ diving helmet and a set of technical information.


Also featured with the watch are black leather strap and small ardillion pin buckle.



Again I would love to extend my gratitude to the wonderful Team MJLC and Paris Boutique for recreating the magic of the vintage Polaris with this tribute to joy of JLC and Polaris aficionados worldwide. Special note as well to the always attentive Director Yves Meylan whose willingness to listen and consider the demanding voices of few passionate is the reason this project resulted in such spectacular fashion and ultimately have seen the light of day.